Motorized micro adjustment for roll feeds



C. M. WIIG Dec. 26, 1967 MOTORIZED MICRO ADJUSTMENT FOR ROLL FEEDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 17, 1966 E T T jnvezz Pillllllllllllll'l M g] I 5% Km I I Z66 Dec. 26, 1967 c. M. wucs MOTORIZED MICRO ADJUSTMENT FOR ROLL FEEDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 17, 1966 C. M. WIIG Dec. 26, 1967 MOTORIZED MICRO ADJUSTMENT FOR ROLL FEEDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 17, 1966 am mm Q C M. WIIG MOTORIZED MICRO ADJUSTMENT FOR ROLL FEEDS Dec. 26, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 17, 1966 United States Patent 3,359,825 MOTQRIZED MICRO ADJUSTMENT FGR ROLL FEEDS Chester M. Wiig, Lincolnwood, Ill., assignor to F J.

Littell Machine Co., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Feb. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 528,287 6 Claims. (Cl. 74-600) The invention relates to rack and pinion feeding mechanisms and has reference more particularly to adjustable crank arms having improved means for adjusting the position of the crank arm whereby the eccentricity of the same can be adjusted during operation, and whereby it is not necessary to stop the punch press or other machine which produces actuation of the crank arm in order to effect said eccentric adjustment.

In the feeding of metal strip material for cutting, punching and similar operations it is conventional procedure to employ coacting feed rolls and which are actuated intermittently from a main drive shaft through a one way clutch of the ratchet or overrunning type. The feed rolls are accelerated from an idle position to maximum speed during each operative stroke of the reciprocating rack and said rolls remain at rest during the return or inoperative stroke of the reciprocating rack.

The present invention is an improvement over the micro-feed adjusting mechanism shown in the Budlong Patents 2,856,793 and 3,090,250, wherein the crank arm can be given a micro-adjustment for any particular manual setting of the arm.

In the motorized crank arm arrangement as shown in the drawings of this invention the crank arm can be adjusted to any particular setting and then micro adjusted for the most accurate and precise feeding. This movement of the crank arm to obtain the desired eccentricity for the reciprocating rack can be effected during operation and at a point remote from the crank arm.

A further object resides in the provision of a face plate on the operating shaft of the punch press or other similar machine and which carries a block slidable on gibs or ways provided on the face of the plate. The block provides the trunnion or crank arm for the reciprocating rack, and an electric motor is carried by the face plate for operating a threaded screw which in turn effects movement of the block and thus the desired eccentricity of the crank arm.

Another and more specific object is to provide a motorized crank arm arrangement for the purpose described which will incorporate planetary gear structure so that the gear ratio between the motor and the crank arm will be such as to permit micro adjustment of the position of the crank arm.

A further object of the invention is to provide a motorized crank arm arrangement whereby the electric power for the motor is taken from an external power source by means of slip rings and brushes having associated relation with the operating shaft ofthe punch press or other similar machine which may actuate the crank arm.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist? of certain novel features of construction and operation as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended thereto.

In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view showing a motorized crank arm arrangement for reciprocating a rack for the purpose of intermittently feeding strip material, the said crank arm arrangement incorporating the present invention;

3,35%,825 Patented Dec. 26, 1967 FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the motorized crank arm arrangement shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view showing a modified form of crank arm arrangement coming within the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along line 44 of FIGURE 3, and showmg details of the electric motor, the planetary gear structure and the threaded actuating shaft, and

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 55 of FIGURE 3.

In the basic form of the invention shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the operating shaft forming part of the punch press or other similar machine, for punching, perforating or cutting the strip material as the same is intermittently fed thereto, is indicated by the numeral 10. A hub member 11 having a face portion 12 integral therewith is mounted on the terminal end of the shaft 10 so as to rotate with the shaft, and said hub member has fixedly bolted to its face portion by means of the bolts 13, a face plate indicated in its entirety by the numeral 14. The face plate is essentially a hollow approximately circular member and which includes an outside wall 15, an inside wall 16, and an annular connecting wall 17.

The outside wall 15 has the ways or gibs 18 formed integral on the outside face of the wall and which in turn receive the block 20 for free slidable movement in a direction diametrically of the face plate 14. The trunnion or crank arm 21 integral with the block, journals the member 22 which forms the head member of the reciproeating rack 23. Thus any eccentricity which is given to the block 2% is likewise imparted to the crank arm 21 which in turn produces the desired reciprocation of the rack 23.

As previously described, the block 20 is movable on the ways 18 in a direction diametrically of the face plate 14. Movement of the block is effected by an electric motor 25 fixedly supported within the face plate and connected by gearing which operatively connects the electric motor with the block. This structure will now be described.

The motor 25 is suitably mounted within the face plate between the side Walls 15 and 16. Said motor provides the drive shaft 26, FIGURE 2, journalled by the bearings 27 and which mounts between the bearings the Worm gear 28. The current for operating the motor is obtained from an outside source through the conductors 30. The terminal box 31 for the conductors 30 provides the brushes 32 which have contact with the slip rings 33. Assuming that a three-phase motor is involved, then three brushes and three slip rings will be required. The slip rings are mounted on the hub member 11 and the same are suitably insulated from each other with connections being provided for the conductors 34 as regards each slip ring. The conductors 34 conduct the electric current to the motor 25.

The gearing connections from the drive shaft 26 and more particularly from the Worm gear 28 include the large gear wheel 35 fixed to shaft 36 and journalled by the bearings 37. A second gear, namely the bevelled pinion 38 is fixed to the shaft 36 and this in turn meshes with the bevelled pinion 40 which is located on and fixed to the threaded actuating shaft 41. The shaft 41 is journalled by the bearings 42 located on the right hand side adjacent to the bevelled gear 40, FIGURE 2. The left hand portion of the actuating shaft is threaded and the same is in threaded engagement with the block 20 by means of the bushings 43. Accordingly, rotation of the actuating shaft will produce movement of the block andcorresponding movement of the crank arm 21. In FIGURE 2 the zero line for the block is indicated by x-y and when the crank arm 21 is centered on this line the crank throw or eccentricity is zero. The maximum eccentricity for the crank arm is indicated by the line a-b and for illustrative purposes the crank arm is shown in position approximately midway between zero and maximum eccentricity.

A third gear wheel 44 is fixed to the shaft 36 and this gear wheel is in mesh with the gear wheel 45 on shaft 46. The pinion gear 47 on shaft 46 transmits the rotation of the shaft to the gear Wheel 48 on shaft 59, said latter shaft being suitably journalled by the bearings 51. Shaft 50 carries the indexing wheel 52 and a pointer 53 is fixed to the outside surface of the wall 15. The gearing from the threaded actuating shaft 41 to the indexing wheel 52 in such that the operator can, with the aid of the pointer, read off the extent of eccentricity of the crank arm 21.

In the motorized arrangement as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the motor 25 can be energized at any time, or in other words, the motor can be energized when the shaft It? is at rest or when the shaft 10 is rotating. Rotation of the motor will drive the gear wheel 35 which is fixed to shaft 36 and thus the bevelled gears 38 and 40 will be rotated to drive the threaded actuating shaft 41. Rotation of the threaded actuating shaft in one direction will move the block 29 to increase the eccentricity of the crank arm whereas rotation of the shaft in the other direction will move the block 20 to decrease the eccentricity of the crank throw. Motor 25 is a reversible motor and a reversing switch can be located in box 31, or such a switch can be interposed in the conductors 34 The modification of FIGURES 3, 4 and discloses substantially a similar combination of elements except for the gearing which, in the modified structure,includes a planetary gear arrangement capable of a high ratio gear reduction. The operating shaft 60 which produces rotation of the crank arm mounts a hub member 61 and which has a base portion 62. By means of the bolts 63 a face plate 64 is secured to the hub member. The face plate is approximately circular in shape, FIGURE 3, and the fastening bolts 13 are conveniently passed through arcuate passages in order to permit adjustment of the secured face plate on the hub member. The metal slip rings 65, for conducting current to the electric motor, are mounted on the hub member by means of the insulation rings 66 and the brushes 67 are housed within and retained by the annular stationary housing 68.

The ways or gibs 70 are integral with the face plate 64 and they project outwardly of the plate for receiving the block 71 which is accordingly mounted on the face plate for movement in directions diametrically of the plate. In order to facilitate mounting of the block on the ways 7 0, the block includes a releasable section 72 which is bolted to the main section of the block by the bolts 73. The modification of FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 is similar to that of FIGURES l and 2 with the block 71 providing the trunnion or crank arm 74 and which projects outwardly from the block. The ball bearing assembly 75 journals the head member 76 of the reciprocating rack '77. A closure disk 78 may be employed for closing the opening in the head member 76 and for retaining the rack on the crank arm with the ball bearing assembly 75 in retained position.

The electric motor 80 is encased in the metal housing 81 which is carried by the face plate 64, the housing being secured to the face plate by the bolts 82 which in turn also secure the annular housing 83 to the face plate, the said annular housing retaining the planetary gear arrangement. The motor includes the field coils 34 and the armature 85 which is fixed to the drive shaft 86. The ball bearing assemblies 87 journal the drive shaft, the right hand bearing as shown in FIGURE 4 being carried by the motor housing 81 and the left hand bearing being fixedly mounted in the end wall of the annular housing 83. To the left of the armature 85 the drive shaft is enlarged to a slight extent and at the left terminal end of the enlarged portion of the drive shaft a pinion gear 38 is fixed, the said pinion gear transmitting the drive from the motor to the planetary gear structure.

The said planetary gear arrangement includes a pair of ring gears 99 and 91 having teeth on the inside of the rings and wherein ring gear 90 has a different number of teeth than ring gear 91. More particularly, gear 90 is fixed to the housing 83 and its inside diameter is greater than the inside diameter of gear 91. In order to achieve the desired speed reduction, gear 91 has a smaller inside diameter and a lesser number of teeth, probably one or two fewer teeth than that of the ring gear 90. Also, it will be observed that gear 91 is fixed to a cover plate 92 which revolves with the gear and the output shaft 93 is in turn fixed to the cover plate by having a press fit therein. The ring gears 90 and 91 are separate and independent, although gear 91 will rotate, whereas gear 90 is stationary, being fixed to the housing 83. However, the ring gears are operatively connected by the double pinions such as 94-95 which are fixed to a journalling shaft 96. Three double pinions are preferably employed and the shafts 96 of said pinions are carried by a planetary cage including spaced ring members 97 joined by the cross elements 98. Pinion 94 of each double pinion is in mesh with the teeth of ring gear 90 and pinion of the same is in mesh with the teeth of ring gear 91.

During operation of the electric motor 80, the drive shaft 86 of the motor, by means of the pinion 88, will cause rotation of the double pinions 94-95 since the same has meshing relation with the pinions 94. Since pinions 94 are also in mesh with the teeth of the stationary ring gear 9t), the planetary cage, which carries the double pinions will be rotated. Thus the cage will revolve with the double pinions travelling around the inside teeth of the ring gears. With ring gear 91 having less teeth than gear 90, the said gear 91 will be displaced for each revolution of the planetary cage to an extent equal to the width of the one or two teeth, which is the measure of the difference between the teeth in gear 90 and the teeth in gear 91. Thus the planetary gear structure will effect an enormous gear reduction on the order of 50 to 1, 200 to 1, and even 400 to 1, and higher has been achieved. This makes possible the micro adjustments of the crank arm 74 and which can be accomplished during rotation of the main driving shaft 60.

From the output shaft 93 the drive from the motor, at a considerably reduced speed, is imparted to the threaded actuating shaft 190. The pinion 101 on shaft 93 has meshing relation with the pinion 102 on the threaded actuating shaft. The ball bearing assemblies 193 journal the shaft 93 and the bearing assemblies 104 journal the threaded actuating shaft. Said shaft has a threaded left hand section as best shown in FIGURE 4, and this section is in threaded engagement with the block 71 by means of the bushings 105.

With the provision of the planetary gear structure in the modification of FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, a considerable reduction in speed can be obtained and accordingly it is possible to achieve micro adjustments of the crank arm 74. Here again, the motor 80 is a reversible type motor and by means of the conductors 106 leading to the box 107 and by the conductors 108 which connect with the metal slip rings as shown in FIGURE 5, the electric current from an outside source can be supplied to the electric motor at all times and even when the crank arm is being rotated. With the motor 80 rotating in one direction the block 71 will be moved to increase the eccentricity of the crank arm 74, whereas rotation of the motor in an opposite direction will decrease the eccentricity of the crank arm. With the adjustable crank arm structure of the invention it is not necessary to stop the punch press or other machine which produces actuation of the crank arm during adjustment of the same, and in addition the invention has the important advantage of achieving micro adjustments and which also can be made during operation.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings, as various other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an adjusting device of the character described, the combination with a plate member adapted to rotate, of a block member mounted on the plate member for reciprocating movements approximately diametrically of the plate member, an outwardly extending trunnion provided by the block member and forming a crank arm when eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis of rotation of the plate member, and means for producing movement of block member on the plate member including an electric motor carried by the plate member, an actuating shaft journalled by the plate member and having a threaded portion in threaded relation with the block member, and speed reducing mechanism comprising gearing operatively connecting the drive shaft of the electric motor with the threaded actuating shaft.

2. In an adjusting device of the character as defined by claim 1, wherein the block member is mounted on the plate member for reciprocating movements by means of ways integral with the plate member, and wherein the actuating shaft has threaded relation with the block member by means of bushings which are fixed to the block member.

3. In an adjusting device of the character as defined by claim 1, wherein the block member is mounted on the plate member for reciprocating movements by means of ways integral with the plate member, and additionally including a main operating shaft to which the plate member is secured, collector rings on the said operating shaft and having electrical connection with the electric motor, and a brush in electrical contact with each of said collector rings.

4. In an adjusting device of the character described, the combination with a plate member adapted to rotate, a main operating shaft mounted for rotation and to which the plate member is fixedly secured, a block member mounted on the plate member for reciprocating movements approximately diametrically of the plate member, an outwardly extending trunnion integral with the block member and forming a crank arm when eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis of rotation of the plate member, means producing movement of the block member on the plate member including an electric motor carried by the plate member, an actuating shaft journalled by the plate member and having a threaded portion in threaded relation with the block member speed reducing mechanism comprising gearing operatively connecting the drive shaft of the electric motor with the actuating shaft, collector rings on the main operating shaft having electrical connection with the electric motor, and means for supplying an electric current to said electric motor from an outside source comprising a brush in the electrical contact with each of said collector rings.

5. In an adjusting device of the character as defined by claim 4, wherein the block member is mounted on the plate member for reciprocating movements by means of ways integral with the plate member.

6. In an adjusting device of the character as defined by claim 4, wherein the speed reducing mechanism for connecting the drive shaft of the electric motor with the threaded actuating shaft includes planetary gearing for obtaining a high ratio in the speed reduction of the threaded actuating shaft with respect to the electric motor.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,814,675 7/1931 Erickson 822.6 2,319,485 5/ 1943 Alabrune 74-600 2,856,793 10/ 1958 Budlong. 2,926,548 3/1960 DAndrea 74-60O 3,090,250 5/ 1963 Budlong.

FRED C. MATTERN, JR., Primary Examiner. W. S. RATLIFF, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN ADJUSTING DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, THE COMBINATION WITH A PLATE MEMBER ADAPTED TO ROTATE, OF A BLOCK MEMBER MOUNTED ON THE PLATE MEMBER FOR RECIPROCATING MOVEMENTS APPROXIMATELY DIAMETRICALLY OF THE PLATE MEMBER, AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING TRUNNION PROVIDED BY THE BLOCK MEMBER AND FORMING A CRANK ARM WHEN ECCENTRICALLY POSITIONED WITH RESPECT TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE PLATE MEMBER, AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING MOVEMENT OF BLOCK MEMBER ON THE PLATE MEMBER INCLUDING AN ELECTRIC MOTOR CARRIED BY THE PLATE MEMBER, AN ACTUATING SHAFT JOURNALLED BY THE PLATE MEMBER AND HAVING A THREADED PORTION IN THREADED RELATION WITH THE BLOCK MEMBER, AND SPEED REDUCING MECHANISM COMPRISING GEARING OPERATIVELY CONNECTING THE DRIVE SHAFT OF THE ELECTRIC MOTOR WITH THE THREADED ACTUATING SHAFT. 